Sexagenarian Allegedly Defiles 10-Year-Old Girl In Osogbo

Faith Ugwu, Tolulope Babatunde

RESIDENTS of Halleluyah community in Osogbo, State of Osun, were astounded when a sexagenarian was allegedly caught in the web of sexual exploitation of a 10 year-old-girl. 

The suspect, Mr. Mathew Faremi, was said to be 65-year-old. 

According to relatives of the victim, the little girl alleged that Faremi defiled her when she was nine years old. 

The little girl was living with her grandmother who is a neighbour to Faremi.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Faremi had reportedly asked some parents in the neighbourhood to release their children for holiday coaching in his house. 

The victim was said to be part of the children who were receiving holiday lessons at Faremi’s house.  

It was gathered that a Pastor of a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Halleluyah had mounted pressure on the family of the victim not to report the case to the police but settle it amicably. 

But the case was reported at Dada Estate Police Station, Osogbo, which led to the arrest of the suspect on Sunday.

The case was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Osogbo for further investigations. 

However, Faremi was arraigned before an osogbo Magistrate Court yesterday on a three-count charge bothering on rape and sexual assault. 

But the accused person pleaded not guilty to the allegation. 

According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, Faremi committed the offence on September 13, 2022, at about 09:00am.

Applying for the bail of the accused person, Defence counsel, K.A Adepoju, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on a liberal term, promising that he would provide reliable sureties.

However, the presiding magistrate, O.A Daramola, declined the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Center.

Magistrate Daramola also held that there would be an accelerated hearing for the case. 

The case was adjourned till October 25, 2022 for definite hearing.